ANAHEIM — Canyon boys volleyball coach Matt Silva has seen enough to know that he has built a winner.
The winning ways continued Monday night as the Comanches swept Yorba Linda in dominant fashion, 25-7, 25-21, 25-17, to clinch a share of the Crestview League championship for the fourth consecutive season.
“I’m excited man,” Silva said. “I think that we’ve really built a program here, not just on the boys side, but as well on the girls side, just kind of putting us into a contender. Everyone notices us now and thinks Canyon is going to be good every year.”
Canyon (13-8, 5-0), which is ranked No. 20 in this week’s CIF-SS Division 1/2 poll, was led by Braedon Marquardt, who had a match-high 25 kills, and setter Julian Hahn, who collected 30 assists against the Mustangs (11-6, 3-2).
The Comanches can clinch the league title outright if they win their league finale at Foothill on Wednesday. The CIF Southern Section playoffs begin next week, and Canyon is likely to be placed in Division 2.
The Comanches had to speed up their offense this season after their middle, Nathan Daileda, suffered an injury and Marquardt was moved to the outside.
That move took some time to develop but has started to pay dividends on the court.
“He’s the most physical guy in the gym, usually, when we play,” Silva said of Marquardt, “since then his efficiency and being able to exploit his natural athleticism has been huge for us. He’s kind of taken control the last four or five matches along with Dom (Pelikan) and Arvin (Farr).”
Marquardt took advantage of great passing from teammates like Hahn, Farr and Kei EinDar.
“My whole team,” Marquardt said. “They’re all a part of it, on and off the court.”
Marquardt said the transition from middle to outside has been challenging.
“It’s been pretty tough getting the tempo down, with rotations and all that, because I’m fairly new, but I’ve been overcoming it as I go,” he said.
Silva also had praise for the passing his team displayed against the Mustangs (11-6, 3-2).
“We had Kei, our freshman libero, who passed really great today and then Dom Pelikan, who’s a three-year starter, all-league and we had to switch him from opposite to outside. It took him like two or three weeks and now he’s one of the best passers in the league, if not the best.”
The Comanches had a stellar night from the service line with 14 aces. Pelikan recorded five aces while EinDar and Hahn finished with three each.
“In the last three matches, I think we were even better but we’ve been working hard,” Silva said. “Kei did a phenomenal job.
“Dom has got to be our lead and he can move it around.” Silva added about Pelikan.
“He can pick and choose what he’s going to do. He can go hard for an ace, he can roll-shot one, right-to-left, left-to-right down the line, so he does quite a bit, he’s very versatile.”
As for the fourth consecutive league title, Silva attributes the success to the players’ hard work year-round, especially in the offseason.
“I’m definitely proud of that.” he said. “I know it goes to show what the kids have been doing, all the work that they put in, not just during the season but in the offseason and stuff too.”
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